Choosing Your Moving Company

Ask about all the potential costs. You won't want to be surprised by any hidden fees that you didn't know about.

Finding a reputable moving company should be one of your top priorities when it comes to planning your move. After all, whoever you choose to work with will have the fate of all of your possessions in their hands. Working with a poor moving company could result in losses, damages, hidden fees and more.

To ensure that you hire a moving company that's trustworthy and reliable, it's important that you compare different movers in your area and do a little background research into their history and reputation. To do this, use these tips to help identify a reputable moving company.

Askforrecommendations - One of the easiest ways to begin looking for a moving company is to ask friends and family members for a recommendation. Try to get multiple recommendations from different people you know so that you can compare the movers. Also, take note of any bad experiences friends or family members had and avoid the movers that they used.

Look at online reviews - You can get a pretty good idea of whether or not a moving company has a good reputation by checking online reviews left by past customers. You can find reviews on sites like Yelp and Angie's List. Just keep in mind that every business tends to have one or two negative reviews. As long as the positive reviews far outweigh the negative ones, there's a good chance the mover is a legitimate professional.

Perform a background check - Visit the Better Business Bureau online and find out if there have been any complaints filed against the moving company you're considering. If there have been complaints filed in the past, find out if the mover bothered to resolve them. Be sure to check Moving Scam as well. They are a consumer advocacy site that provides a blacklist of moving companies you should avoid.

Look for experience - A moving company with a lot of experience is a good sign. Bad moving companies or scams don't tend to last very long. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that you shouldn't hire a newer moving company. If they are a new business, ask about the experience of its owners. If they have a lot of experience within the moving industry, then it's a good sign.

Ask for references - Whenever you speak with a moving company, make sure that you ask for references. A good moving company will have no problem providing you with a list of recent references that you can contact. Be wary of movers who refuse to provide references or who claim not to have any.

Ask about hiring practices - Some moving companies hire day laborers as a way to cut costs. You should avoid such movers. Instead, look for moving companies that hire full-time workers and that train them thoroughly.

Avoid movers that ask for large deposits - No reputable mover will request a large deposit up front. Never work with a mover that does. If you pay someone up front, you may never see your belongings again. If they request a small deposit, only use your credit card so that you can prevent potential fraud.

Compare estimates - First of all, when you ask for an estimate, a reputable mover should send someone to your home in order to perform an accurate evaluation. Don't trust the estimate you're given if it's not an in-home estimate. You should also be very wary about flat rates and estimates that are substantially lower than the other estimates you've received. Cheaper doesn't always mean better.

Ask about licensing and insurance - Never work with a moving company that's not licensed and insured. Without insurance, not only could you be responsible should any of the movers injure themselves on your property, but the mover may not be able to cover the costs of any of your possessions that were damaged or lost during the move.

Ask about hidden costs - Ask about all the potential costs. You won't want to be surprised by any hidden fees that you didn't know about. Some moving companies will charge extra to move certain possessions, such as safes or pianos. They may also charge for gas depending on how far the move is. In some cases, a mover may even charge you extra if your current or new home is located above the ground floor, which would require the movers to go up the stairs or elevator.

The moving process can be quite stressful in itself. The last thing you'll want to do is to make things even more difficult on yourself by hiring a bad moving company. Be sure to do your due diligence before you hire a moving company to ensure that you choose a mover that is both honest and reliable.